Prediction factors of student satisfaction in online courses

The easy access and daily use of recent information and communication technologies has led to an impressive development of university offers completely in online modality. These developments have also raised important questions about the determining factors that affect learning, performance and retention of the learners of these academic programs. One of these determinants is the degree to which virtual courses or programs satisfy the learners' expectations. Specifically, this study investigated the predictor factors of learner satisfaction identified by Sun and colleagues (2008) among Hispanic learners. The questionnaire was translated into Spanish and filled out by 102 participants. The internal consistency analysis resulted in high reliability. Correlation analysis showed that all the factors studied, except computer anxiety, are significantly correlated with learner satisfaction. The stepwise regression analysis found that course flexibility, instructor attitude towards e -learning, student Internet self-efficacy, and perception of the interaction factors determine almost 47.2% of student satisfaction. Based on these results, guidance is offered for managers of higher education virtual programs.